Explosion-engine.



Nv. 310,535. PATENTED JAN. 23, 1906.

' H. HENRIGH.-

EXPLOSION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2O,V1904. A

3 SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

a i n y l a tt'ornegs No. 810,535. PATENTED JAN. 23, 1906 H. HEINRICH. EXPLOSION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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@i j Q ZW b9 ttornegs Win Inventor NORHIS PETERS. INC.. LIT.' WASHINGYN, D. C.

- H'.' HEINRICH. .EXPLOSION ENGINE. v Alfrmonloxvrimn 23.20, 1904.

PATBNTBD Mums,v 190s.

a snmsfsnnm s.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

HEINRICH HEINRICH, OF SPGTSVVOOD, EWr

JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF GNE- HALF TO DAVID D. A. OUTCALT, OF SPOTSWOOD, N EW J ERSEY EXPLOSION-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1906.

Application led April 20, i904. Serial No. 204,120.

vjacent to the walls of the cylinder, so that it may be brought into direct contact with the heated walls of the cylinders and assist' in cooling the same. y

A further object of theinvention is to providev an explosion-engine in which the piston has one or more peripheral grooves or channels arranged .to be placed in communication with the water-supply, said groove or channel having ported communication with the interior ofthe'cylinder, so that any steam the admission of the explosive compound.

which may `form will be conveyed to the inner end of the cylinder. l

A still further object of the invention is to provide an explosion-engine in which. water is introduced along with the explosive compound 'into the explosion-chamber, there to assist in reducing the temperature of the cylinder.

A still further obj ect of the invention is to provide in an engine of this class for the control of the 'flow of water by a valve which governs With these and other objects in view', as

lwill more fully hereinafter appear', the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement 'of parts hereinafter described,

' illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

claims, it bein ,and particularly 'pointed out in the appended understood that various changes in the orm, proportions, size, and minor details "of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a two-cylinder explosion-engine constructed in accorde Fig. 2 isa plan view of the same, partly in section. Fig. 3 is an endelevationof'the engine, portions being shown in section. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of one of the pistons. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating the connectiolns for supplying water to the pistou-chan# ne Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout 6o the several iigures of the drawings. The engine forming the subject of the present invention may be provided with one or more cylinders and may be of the four-cycle or two-cycle type, as desired, and in the present instance the engine is shown as of the two-cylinder four-cycle type, both pistons being connected to a common crank-shaft l, on which is mounted a suitable balancewheel 2. f

The various working parts are supported in a suitable frame, which in the present instance includes a bed-plate 3,- having bearings for the reception of the crank-shaft, and e rising from the bed-plate are a number 'of 75 spaced standards 4, formingsupports for the two cylinders 5, provision being made for the support of a counter-shaft 6, to which the main shaft is connected by reducing-gearing, and in accordance with the customary prac- 8o tice 'the Vcounter-shait carries the exhaustvalve-operating cam 7 and commutatore or other spark-controlling devices S, the latter being arranged in any suitable or convenient manner and connected to sparking electrodes in the explosion-chambers, these being of any ordinary type.

The cylinders 5 are shown in the lpresent instance as provided with plain unja'cketed v walls but it is understood that vany ordinary 9o constructionlmay be employed, and the cylinders may be provided with.l water-jackets'- or air-jackets, or the outer surface of the cylinder may be ribbed in order to assist inthe radiationl of heat. In each cylinder is a trunk-piston 10, that is connected by alpin 11 to one end of a connecting-rod l2, the op-l posite end of which'is connected to a crankpin 13, carried by a pair of crank-.disks le on. Y the crank-shaft l. The connecting-rod l2 roo is formed of a tube adapted for the reception l of wicking or absorbent material saturated-` with lubricating material. To each, vendfo'fV the tubular rod is secured a pin-box 16, having openings in communication with vthe holm5 low rod, so that the saturated material will keep the pin connections effectively lubriy cated. i At thelower end ot the cylinder, which iny the present instance is arranged vertically, 11o

is an annular cup 17, in which is placed a lubricant, and into this lubricant dips the lower end of the piston at the completion of eachdownstroke, so that a portion of the lubricantwill be carried up by the piston into contact with the inner walls of the cylinder.

The lpiston is provided with an annular channe or groovey 20, arranged in much the same manner as one of the packing-receiving grooves, or there may be more than one of thesegrooves, if desired. From each groove lead a number of ports 21 to the upper end of the piston, so as to place the grooves in communication with the inner end of the cylinder, and when War-r is supplied to theI groove or grooves such water will be held in contact with the heated inner wall of the cylinder and will absorb heat therefrom to an extent sufficient to keep the cylinder comaratively cool, while any steam which may orm Will pass through the ports 21 to the upper end of the cylinder, there to mingle With the explosive compound.

The bearings for the counter-shaft 6 are so arranged that the opposite ends of the shaft come close to the lower ends of the two cylinders, and the ends of said shaft pass through suitable bearing-boxes 23, in wlr'ch are formed openings 24 in communication with a supply of water, )referably under pressure. The water-supply openings coinmunicate with an annular groove 24l formed in the interior of the guiding-box 23, and this annular groove is in communication with a radially-arranged portion of 'a right-angledpassage 25, formed in the end portion of the 'shaft 6, leadin for the greater portion of its length in the p ane of the axis of the shaft to the extreme end thereof, and this passage is at all times in communication with an opening 2 8, formed in the wall of the cylinder. lhe'opening 28 is so disposed that at the completion of each downstroke of the piston the channel 2O will be brought into alinement with said opening, and water under pressure will be forced into-said channel or groove, and thence on the subsequent upstroke of the piston will ,be carried in constant contact with the inner wall of the cylinder and subjected tothe action of heat, while any steam that may form will pass out through the ports 21. j

At the top of the cylinder is an exhaustvalve 30, having the usual stem 31, that is acted upon by a coiled compression-spring 32, normally tending to maintain the valve in closed position, and engaging with the valve-stem is a lever 33, that is operated upon by the exhaust-valve cam 7, the movement being transmitted through a rod 3 4, guided at one end of the cylinder. The valve is operated in the usual manner at every fourth stroke in order to permit the escape of the exploded charge.

In commumcation with the upper ends of the cylinders is a pipe 40 ,having at its opposite ends the usual spring-closed inlet-valves 41, which open on the suction-stroke to permit. the explosive charge to enter the' cylinder. In this pipe is placed a reticulated cas- 7o ing 42, containing any suitable wieking or absorbent material, and this is kept constantly saturated by gasolene or other hydrocarbon flowing through a ipe 43, the quantity of fluid being under t e control of a valve 44. The air to be carbureted is sucked in through an inlet-pipe -45, which communicates with the pipe 4() at a point about midway of the reticulated absorbent-holder 42, so that the air will be compelled to pass through the ab- 8o sorbent material and become saturated with the h drocarbon before entering the cylinder. The egree of 4saturation of the absorbentis wholly under of the control of the engineer, so that by forming the explosive compound more or less rich in carbon he may to some extent control the speed and' power of the eneine. D At a point parallel with the pipe 40" is a water-pipe 48, to which water is admitted 9o through a valved inlet 49 and the ends of the water-pipe are in communicationI with the ports 5 0, leading directly to the valve-seats of the inlet-valves 41, so that when the inletvalves are closed the water-supply is wholly cut ofl'; but when the inlet-valves open to permit the passage of the explosive compond thel water is also free to flow intolire cylinder and assist in cooling the same. sa

At the top ofthe cylinder and, if necessary,\o forming an integral part thereof is a muflier 53 in the form of an annular chamber a proximately parabolic in cross-section and aving an annular entrance-mouth of contractedj width that is in constant communication with the space above the exhaust-valve 30, while at one ormore points themumer may be in communication with the atmosphere, and when the exhaust-valve is open the products of combustion will pass upward through the no contracted passage-wayand thence expand into the annular passagel 53', andiinally esy 'cape to the atmos here without noise.

0n the crank-s aft 1 is keyed or otherwise secured a pinion 60, intermeshing with a gear 1 15 61 on the counter-shaft 6 in the proportion of one to two, as-is usual inv engines of the fourcycle type. Secured to the gear 6 1 is a pinion 62, intermeshing with a gear 63, that is feathered on a hollow `shaft or sleeve 64, carried by r zo the main shaft 1. The hub of the ear 63 is provided with an annular groove 65 or the reception of pins or antifriction -.rollers carried b a bif-urcated shaft-lever 66, whichv may be l y of the usual type and operate to shift the position of the gear'on the hollow shaft 64, so thatsaid gear maybe moved out of mesh with the pin 63 and clutch members 67 on its 'hub' portion and forced into engagement with the 60, the gears being so related that the gear 6.3 may be movedzto a point midway of its two positions,'but outof engagement with both of pmlOD 6.0 and 62, so that the movement.. of t e engine will not be transmitted to the hollow shaft v64,'or'it may be readily shifted to engage with either of the pinions, and thus transmit to the hollowgshaft a movement at va 'fr speeds.

he braces of the main shaft are elongated and form pivotal supports fora air of hangers 69, Whichat their'lower en s form supports for pivotally-mounted brackets 7 0, and these hangers are further braced and supportedv by adjustable rods 71, 'connected yat,

their upper ends to the. bed-plate. The

brackets 7G form bearings for the reception of a shaft 72, on which is secured va sprocketwheelf73 or other devices for the transmission of power, or the shaft itself maybe connected V'directly or indirectly or through the medium of a shaft to the propellerof the boat tobe drivenor to the axle of an automobile or to any other mechanism to1v be operated. At that side of the brackets 70, opposite the hangers 69, are connected links `7 3 the upper ends of which are secured jointly to the shorter arms of a bell-crank lever 76, that is fulcrumed at 77 -to a transverse bolt on the bedplate. The hollow shaft 64l has a belt-Wheel 7 8, and the lower shaft 72'has a belt-wheel 79, and over these two wheels passes a belt 80 for the transmissionofpower.

In the operation .of the device, it being understood thatthe engines are of the four-cycle type, lit is premised that the piston has completed its suction-stroke and that the space above the piston is lled with the explosive charge. OnI reaching the position indicated in Flg. 1 water will immediately How into the annular channel or groove 20 of the piston, and as the piston starts on its upward or compression stroke the water will be kept in constant contact with the inner wall of the c linder and will absorb heat therefrom, so tliat should steam form, as it invariably will when the engine is once well running," the steamwill pass into the space above the piston and 4there mingle with the explosive compound. At the proper point, deter- V"mined lb the arrangement ofthe sparking lcirc'uit,'tlie explosion will occur and the pislton will be driven outward and the groove or "channel will again be brought into commu-I nication with the water-supply and water will again enter therein, and on the upstroke of the piston, during the explosion of the explosive gases, the fresh supply of water'will again be held in contact with the heated walls of the cylinder, so that at each reciprocation ofthe piston a volume of cool water will be brushed over the whole of the inner surface ofthe cylinder within thestroke of the piston, and at the same time the water` with the explosive charge, will materially assistin keepingv the upper portion of the cylindei` cool.

The speedV at which 'the hollow shaft' 6 4 and its belt-wheel 78 are rotated will depend altogether on the osition of. the gear 63, as previously descri ed, and the arrangement of this gear may be altered in very many ferent ways -in accordance with the character of the Work which. theengine is to perform. Under ordinary circumstances the belt 80 will transmit power to thebelt-wheel 79, and thus drive theshaft 72, but by merely shifting the controlling-lever 76 to the extent of. a

single notch the shaft 72 may be elevated` until the belt -is slacked and no power is transmitted, although the engine continues running, or, if desired, a si ht further shiftin of the lever will brin tIie surface of the heilt-pulleys in frictionacontact, and the movement of the shaft 72 will be reversed,

and the speed during reversal will be p'recisely "the same as that during the ordinary forward movement of the en gine.

Havin thus described theinvention, what is claime is* 1. In an expl'osion-engme, aplston having a peripheral groove forming a water-receptacle, a ported cylinder, a revoluble member having a water-passage in communication with the port, and means for rotating said member.

2. In aneXp'losion-engine, amovable piston having a peripheral groove, a cylinder having a port with which the groove may aline, a revoluble shaft having a water-passage in alinement with the groove, a watersupply means encircling the shaft, and means for rotating said shaft.

3. In an explosion-engine, a cylinder having a port for the passage of water, a grooved piston, a revoluble shaft having a water-passage in alinement with the port, a boxing in which said shafthangs, and Water connections for the boxing, said passage having a laterally or radially extending portion in communication with the interior of the boxing.

4. In combination, a cylinder having a port, a. piston having a groove which`mavaline with the port, a revoluble shaft having a passage-way in part extended on a radial line, an annular groove into which the outer end of the passage opens, a boxin encircling the shaft, and Water connections or thebox- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HEINRICH HEINRICH.

Witnesses:

FRED W. DEvoE, ALICE M. Davon.

IOO 

